Invest Newcastle has strengthened its team with two senior appointments.
Jennifer Hartley has been appointed as Director. After working for NGI back in 2012 for 3 years as Senior Inward Investment Manager, she brings more than 12 years’ trade and investment experience to our established team, who are based in offices on the quayside.
In addition, existing team member and experienced manager, Matt Bratton has also been promoted to Senior Investment Manager.
Jennifer has joined from Newcastle City Council where she led and developed their Digital and Tech sector strategy. Prior to that she has held several trade and investment roles across both the public and private sector, including her previous role at Invest Newcastle.
Highly experienced in the field of inward investment, she has previously worked as an International Trade Advisor for the Department for International Trade (DIT) and headed up the Japanese Inward Investment desk at the former regional development agency (One North East) remotely managing the office in Tokyo.
She then moved to Invest Newcastle, where she worked proactively to generate and convert investment leads from national and international businesses. She then moved on to a role as Deputy Head and Trade Investment Director at Tech North, where she was responsible for a team of people, developing their strategy and representing all cities within the Northern Powerhouse. The aim of her role was to accelerate the tech economy through programmes involving investors, academics and global tech clusters.
She has worked on several high-profile projects that have brought significant investment into the region. Some notable highlights include supporting companies such as Nissan, Hitachi, Ubisoft and Mkodo.
In her new role she will drive Newcastle’s ambition to attract new business, investment and jobs, supporting indigenous businesses to grow and ultimately to help deliver private-sector-led growth.
Matt Bratton who has been instrumental in attracting new businesses to our region has recently been promoted to Senior Investment Manager. In his new role he will be responsible for coordinating inward investment activity across key sectors, with his extensive knowledge of the city’s expertise in ageing, data and urban sustainability. He is an advocate for the region nationally and internationally, focusing on the digital, tech, life sciences and healthcare sectors.
Sarah Stewart OBE, CEO of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) said “I am delighted to welcome Jen back to NGI to lead Invest Newcastle. She will be a brilliant addition to our Senior Management Team, bringing in a wealth of technical knowledge and sector expertise. A huge well done to Matt who is now also taking on a senior manager role within the team, as a result of his continued commitment, passion and success over the past three years. With the appointment of Jen and Matt’s promotion I am confident that 2019 will be a year of international investment and economic growth.”
Pat Ritchie, Chief Executive, Newcastle City Council said: “Pat Ritchie, Chief Executive, Newcastle City Council said: “Jen has an excellent track record, having helped drive investment across a number of key sectors. With her strong values, commitment and leadership she will take the team forward into what is going to be an exciting time for our region. Jen has joined the team at an opportune time, when we are in an incredibly strong position to demonstrate what the city and wider North of Tyne region can offer potential investors and businesses. Inward Investment is integral to economic growth in our region, and with an increasingly strong international brand I am confident more and more businesses will choose Newcastle as their home.”
Newly-appointed Director of Invest Newcastle, Jennifer Hartley added: “I am delighted to join such a strong and ambitious team who are so passionate about our city and driving economic growth.”
Invest Newcastle is a service delivered by NewcastleGateshead Initiative on behalf of Newcastle, to attract and secure new investment and jobs for the city. They deliver a range of highly targeted activities and bespoke services to attract and support potential and existing investors. Since it was established in 2013, it has supported more than 130 new businesses to relocate or expand, helping to create and safeguard more than 7,500 jobs.
